Westwood Girls Lacrosse Players Get A Surprise Senior Night

WESTWOOD, NJ — Five Westwood High School lacrosse seniors joined what became a large group of high school athletes across the country who didn't get a chance to play out their final seasons.

The loss of a final year means more than just a lack of games, especially for long-time team members.

The Westwood senior night committee knew this, and made sure that at least one special senior-year moment happened for the team.

Posted to Twitter, the committee surprised the five seniors — Alexa Connelly, Cleo Simeonidis, Haley Fasano, Abigail Johnston and Amanda Brandenburg — with an at-home senior night.

According to Sandra Marini, the committee determined via Zoom chat that one family would decorate the home of the athletes as they usually do for senior night, and asked the parents of the athletes to organize their own parade as part of the surprise.

"We were heart broken that their last season was cancelled, we knew how much they were looking forward to their last season as a high school student," said Marini.

"It was not what we hoped for as they finish their last season that never happened, but it was the Lady Cardinal community that made it the best we possibly could. They deserved it."

Abigail Johnson is a life-long lacrosse player, and will be attending Nova Southeastern University in the fall.

Amanda Brandenburg began playing lacrosse with Washington Township recreation, and played all four years at Westwood. She will attend Temple University, where she plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.

Alexa Connelly played three varsity seasons for Westwood, and will attend Penn State University in the fall.

"It was a great surprise to still be able to have a senior day even though our actual season was cancelled," she said.

Cleo Simeonidis has been a member of the Westwood varsity team since she was a freshman, and will attend Virginia Tech University, where she hopes to play club lacrosse.

"I am really thankful for everything my team and the team moms did for me," she said. "I was very surprised and excited that I was able to celebrate my last season in some way."

Haley Fasano will attend Marist College, and hopes to continue playing lacrosse on a club or intramural team there.

She explained that the gesture of a surprise senior day was especially impactful after the disappointment of a cancelled senior season.

"These small acts of kindness are immeasurable especially in times like these," she said. "Having the house decorated along with flowers, gifts and drive-bys by friends and teammates really helped lift all our spirits."